Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-10-15

heart to say that oven 10 marry her could
not desert my friends. And now you cnn do
what you like, deserve 10 all An have TO
say Is that l hopo you may never love
woman with all your heart and then be so
sorely tempted OF herr and no turned 70 20.
"Look here, oil fellow" said Cir Henry,
sjust STRIP minute; have little tale 10 tell
you, to," And he proceeded to narrato what
had taken place the previous day between
Sorais and himself.
This was a finishing stroke to poor Good.
II Is not pleasant TO any man TO be made
tool Of, but when the circumstances arc as
peculiarly ntrocious as in the present case II
Is about as bitter pill as anybody can be
called upon to swallow.
ado you know" he said, 81 think that be.
tween you you fellows have about worked n
cure" and he turned and walked away, and
for one felt very sorry for him. All, IL the
moths would always carefully avoid tho cam
die, how few burnt wings there would bel
That day was court day, when the queens
sat In the great hall and received petitions,
discussed laws, etc, and thither we al jourped
shortly afterwards. On our way we were
joined by Good, who was looking exceedingly
depressed, and no wonder. y
When We got into the ball Nyleptha was
already on her throne, and proceeding with
business as usual, surrounded by councillors,
courtiers, lawyers, priests, and ON unusually
strong guard. II was, however, easy to see
from the air Of excitement and expectation
on the faces Of everybody present that no.
body was paying much attention TO ordinary
affairs, the fact being that the knowledge
that civil war was imminent had now got
abroad. Wesaluted Nyeptha and took our
accustomed places, and for little while
things went on as usual, when suddenly the
trumpets began to call outside the palace,
and from the great crowd that was gathered
there in anticipation Of some unusual event
there rose roar OF "Soyais Soraisl"
Then came the roll of many chariot wheels,
and presently the great curtains at the end
| Of the hall were drawn wide, and through
them entered the LADY Of the Night" herself.
Nor did she come alone. Preceding her was
Agon, the high priest arrayed in his most .
| gorgeous vestments, and on either side were
other priests The reason for their presence
was obvious-coming with them 1t feuld
have been sacriege to attempt to detain her.
/ Behind her were a number of tho great lords,
and behind them a small body of picked
| guards. glance at Sorais herself was
enough to show that her mission was OF no
peaceful kind, for in place OF her gold en-
broidered "kaf" she wore a shining tunic
formed OF golden scales, and on her head
little golden helmet, In her hand, too, she
bore toy spear, beautifully made and fash
ioned Of solid silver Up the hall she came
looking like lioness in her conscious pridi
and 5eauty, and as she approached the spec
tatMs fell back bowling and made path for
hea. by the sacred stone she halted, and
loying her hand on it, she or ed out with
bud voice to Nyleptha on the throne, @Hail,
D qucenl' t5l $685.
"All hail, my sister," answered Nyleptha
DRAW thou near. Fear not give thee safa
conduct"
Sorais answered with naughty look, AID
swept on up the hall Till she stood right be'
fore the thrones.
"a boon, o queen!" she cried again.
"Speak OH, my sister; what is there can
give thee who hath half our kingdomr
"1'hou canst tell me true word-me and
the people Of Zu-Vendis Art thou, or art
thou not, about to take this foreign wolf,"
and she pointed to Sir Henry with her toy
spear, "to he husband to thee and share thy
led and thrones"
Curtis WINGED at this, and turning towards
Sorais, said to her In o low voice, "Methnks
that yesterday thou hadst other names than
wolf to call Inc by, o queens and saw lie L
bite her lips as, like danger flag, the blood
famed red upon her face. As TO-. Nyleptha.
who is nothing if not original, she, seeing
That the thing was out and that there was
nothing further to be gained by concealment,
answered the question in novel and effec-
tual manner, inspired thereto, as ! firmly be-
ieve, by coquetry and desire to triumph
ever her rival. e
=! Up she rose, and descending from tho
throne swept in all tho glory Of her royal
grace Oh to where her lover stood. There she
stopped and untwined the golden snake that
was wound around her arm. Then she babe
him knee and he dropped on one knee on tho
marble before her; and next, taking the
golden snake with both her hands, she bent
the pure soft metal round his neck, and when
it was fast deliberately kissed him on the
brow and called him her ",leaiflolsl"
"Thou seest," she said, when tho excited
murnur Of the spectators had died away,
addressing her sister as Sir Henry rose to his
feet, II have put my collar round the VOLTS
neck and behold! he shall be my watch dog,
and that Is my answer to thee, Sorais my
sister, and to those with thee Fear not,n
she went on, smiling swcetly Oh her lover,
ana pointing 10 tne golden snake she had
twined round his massive throat. "If my
yoke be heavy, yet is it Of pure gold, and it
shall not gall thee"
! Then, turning to the audience, she con.
tinued, in a clear proud tone: "sy, Lady Of
the Night, lords, priests, and people here
gathered together, by this sign do take tho
foreigner 10 husband, even here III tho face
Of We all What, am I aqueen and yet not
free to choose the man whom will lovel THEN
should DO lower than the meanest girl III ali
my provinces Nay, he hath won my heart,
and with 1t goes my hand and throne and all
have--ay, had he been a beggar instead OF
great lord, fairer and stronger than nny
hero, and having more wisdom and knowl-
edge of strange thing, had given him oil;
how much more so, then, being what he tsp
And she took his hand and gazed proudly on
him, and holding it, stood there boldly
facing thepeople And such was her sweet
ness, and the power and dignity Of her per-
son, and SO beautiful she looked standing
hand in hand there at her lovers side, SO
sure OF him and OF herself, and SO ready to